Polished performer

The small car sector is one of the most competitive on the market. With every major manufacturer fielding ever more technological models, GreenFleet takes a closer look at one of the longest-standing. The recently refreshed Volkswagen Polo is 40 in 2015, but do the latest refinements continue the four decade success story? 

The Volkswagen Polo is as conventional as it is sensible. Now in its fourth decade, the evergreen small VW has always sat at the upper end of the supermini market, enjoying a premium image. Regular appearances in the UK’s top 10 best-selling cars chart ensures it remains a constant sight on the roads. A recent refresh has kept it among the UK’s most popular cars. Petrol used to be the small car fuel of choice, but as emphasis in recent years has been placed on lower fuel consumption figures, diesel has become more commonplace. And although it hasn’t wholly penetrated the small car market yet, there appears to be enough demand for manufacturers to offer it. With CO2 emissions of 88g/km, the Polo TDI is one of the cleanest small cars available, but do the recent revisions make it more of a complete package?

Sense of class
Volkswagen has a reputation for erring on the side of caution when it comes to model refreshes, and the face-lifted Polo is no exception. At first glance it appears the same as the previous version of the fifth-generation model, but subtle changes to the front and rear bumpers as well as the lights make it look a little more up-to-date. There are new wheel designs, too (15-inch ‘Lyon’ alloy rims are fitted to SE models), as well as a fresh range of colours. Although the exterior tweaks are very subtle, they do imbue a heightened sense of class than before, which is most probably Volkswagen’s aim.

It all adds up to a no changes for changes sake mantra, and it’s a similar story on the inside. However, one welcome addition is a colour touchscreen for the infotainment system, which is standard on all Polos. While entry-level cars get a 5.0-inch system, other models, such as the SE tested here, get 6.5-inch screens. The Composition Media system is comprehensive and also features a glovebox-mounted CD player, MDI (Multi Device Interface) with USB connection, SMS functionality, and Bluetooth connectivity.

As before, the interior is a very comfortable and very well-built place to be. Ergonomically‑perfect switches and controls means everything falls to hand, is where you expect to find it and is nicely weighted. However, if its styling flourishes you’re after, you’d be better off looking elsewhere.

Cleaner engine technology
Along with the exterior and interior amendments, a big reason for the Polo’s mid‑life revamp was the availability of cleaner engine and safety technology. All versions now have engines which meet Euro 6 regulations and Volkswagen claims that most are 26 per cent more efficient than before. Five petrol engines and two diesels power the Polo, and the three-cylinder TDI tested here is one of two newly-developed units. Its output of 74bhp is developed from 3,000 to 3,750rpm, while torque of 154b ft (210Nm) is available from as low down as 1,500rpm. It may be new, but the engine is noisy at low revs, although quietens down very admirably at speed making the Polo unbelievable refined. It needs to be worked fairly hard to pick up speed quickly, though, which accentuates its uncharacteristic gruffness. Volkswagen claims a 12.9 seconds from 0 to 62mph time and top speed of 107mph.

One thing the engine is, is clean. Emitting just 88g/km, the Polo SE TDI is now actually cleaner than the Polo BlueMotion. The latest version of the super-parsimonious Polo is now a 94g/km petrol model. Equipped with a five‑speed manual gearbox, the Polo TDI has an official claimed fuel consumption of 83.1mpg on the combined cycle – VW states that the BlueMotion’s combined cycle figure is 68.9mpg. During our 420 miles of testing, we averaged 61.9mpg, which is comparable to the official mpg values of other non-eco petrol-powered Polos elsewhere in the range. To help achieve more mpg, the Polo SE’s infotainment system has a ‘Think Blue. Trainer’ function which imparts economical driving tips. It also analyses the journeys that have been undertaken so driving style adjustments can be made.

Driver assistance systems
To drive, the Polo is polished, quiet when cruising and is possessed of a comfortable ride. The steering is lacking in feel, but the new electro-mechanical steering system does improve things and make the car more fun to drive than Polos of old. Another benefit of the 2014 refresh was the adoption of a raft of new safety technologies, which Volkswagen claims makes the Polo the safest and most advanced car in its class. The range of driver assistance systems on offer includes Hill Hold, an Automatic Post-Collision Braking System (which reduces kinetic energy, minimising the chance of a second impact), a Driver Alert system, Adaptive Cruise Control with Front Assist and City Emergency Braking.

Volkswagen UK sold 48,004 Polos last year, making it the company’s second best‑selling car after the Golf. The best-seller is expected to be the 59bhp 1.0-litre SE petrol model. Around 70 per cent of Polos are sold to private buyers with the remaining 30 per cent to fleet customers where the TDI version may be better suited. Lower emissions means that the diesel‑engined car sits one VED band lower, although both share the same BIK rate of 16 per cent. The BlueMotion meanwhile is £65 cheaper, shares the same VED band A positioning but loses out on refinements such as electric windows on five-door versions. It’s a case of paying your money and taking your choice. But whichever choice you make, you’ll be rewarded with one of the most refined and grown-up small cars around today.

Further information
www.volkswagen.co.uk